Presented is a beautifully built pond yacht hull made using traditional plank on frame construction important information added in italics. It is so finely made and built like a real sailing craft that it must have been built by a master shipbuilder. The hull is made by nailing a series of planks called "strakes" on a frame of sawn ribs that are mounted crosswise on the keelson with beams across at deck level. The ribs are placed at three inch centers. At the very bow is a screw standing 1/8 inch above the deck level, and 6 inches behind it is a metal strap. These markers can be seen in a number of the photographs. Taken together, both these items were likely used to hold a bowsprit in place. The hull is shaped in accordance with the plans which give the desired profile shape. The inside shows dried old paint and some accumulation of grit and grime again adding to look of a many years old derelict. Due to this model's age, many of the joints between the strakes have dried out and leave a small gap between the adjoining planks adding to a look of a boat yard derelict.

 

The streamlined shape of the hull originally made us think of a "J Class" racing yacht, but the addition of fittings for a bowsprit puts it in an entirely different category. The Universal Rule to which the J Class was designed was adopted in 1920. The class was selected for America's Cup racing in 1928.  But a bowsprit installed on the model easily dates it back into the mid to last half of the 19th Century.

Consequently, the model likely replicates any of the international large size racing yachts prior to 1900. This would include any of the yachts in the America's Cup 1893-1903 Class, known as the great 90-footers, and could include some earlier ones that had a single mast. The vessels in this class with a 90 foot waterline length were:

Pictured is COLUMBIA of 1899.

 

1893 VIGILANT vs. VALKYRIE II
1895 DEFENDER vs. VALKYRIE III
1899 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK
1901 COLUMBIA vs. SHAMROCK II

The rigging and much of the deck has been removed but the original rudder and the lead keel are in place. What you see is an advance state of aging. All the gear that was removed was lost, and there is nothing more than what you see in the pictures.  

 

DIMENSIONS: 

 

HULL Length Overall without bowsprit:

50 1/2" L x 10" W x 14 /8" H to deck                    WEIGHT: 15 lbs

STAND: 33 1/4" L x 9 1/2" W x 1 1/2" H                                5 lbs

Nicely formed bow. Note screw and strap

Waterfoil keel section

Rudder skeg and waterline

Ribs, frames and beams

Profile. Note screw and strap on foredeck